[jaws-uk] Re: talking scanners
- From: "Tristram Llewellyn" <tris-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jaws-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:35:11 -0000
This doesn't really belong on the Jaws list, but I shall give you a quick run
down as it may be of interest to some others and we do that sort of product as
a company also.
There are two broad types of scanning system that turn printed text into speech
around currently. The first is a dedicated single hardware unit of the type
made famous years ago by Robotron with its Rainbow unit that George Bell's
company used to sell. This type of scanner is most popular with people who do
not wish to interact intensively with a PC for reasons of complexity or
dexterity. Another market would be public access in library where typically a
user would typically not always be PC literate enough to user the next type of
product below. Their advantage is that they are simple to user, but a
disadvantage is their relative cost and lack flexibility. We sell a Freedom
Scientific unit called the SARA which is a free standing unit of the type
mentioned above. Also available but from elsewhere is the Portset reader from
Portset systems.
The second broad type of product available are software solutions attached to a
conventional flatbed scanner peripheral device. This type of product
sub-divides into those solution aimed specifically at visual impairement and
those that are what might be described as mainstream both these routes are
cheaper than a dedicated hardware scanner and generally more flexible. The
solutions targeted at visual impairment attempt to make the priorities of
accessing material top of their list so frequently will provide one button
scanning and automatic speech read out of scanned text. Of these Sight and
Sound sell Kurzweil 1000, which is a very feature rich product. Other
solutions include Freedom Scientific OpenBook 7.0 which is broadly similar
although it hasn't been updated so recently, also Dolphin Cicero is availabe
which does pretty much the same job. The mainstream solutions such as Fine
Reader or even Omnipage are quite usable with screen readers but perhaps less
immediately intuitive, however if cost and occasional use is your main
motivational factor then these might be worth a look. Kurzweil, Openbook and
Cicero are worth looking at where speed and usability are important. Kurzweil
particularly is rather more than just a scanning application as it has become
partially a reference tool with other productivity aids added on to the basic
scan and read feature set.
Flatbed scanners are still quite cheap, both Kurzweil and OpenBook like Epson
scanners so they are generally a good bet anyway but check with the software
supplier before you buy a specific model for your software.
Regards.
Tristram Llewellyn
Sight and Sound Technology
Technical Support
www.sightandsound.co.uk
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Curry
To: jaws-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 11:17 AM
Subject: [jaws-uk] talking scanners
hi folks,
can any one advise me on a talking scanner, either worked through the
computer or a stand alone, which is the best, and if any one has either one of
these how do they find them.
also has any one ever heard of a talking house alarm? where do i purchase
one? are they any good? and how much do they cost?
susan
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe]
** If this link doesn't work then send a message to:
** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
** and in the Subject line type
** unsubscribe
** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the
** immediately-following link:-
** [mailto:jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq]
** or send a message, to
** jaws-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq
Other related posts:
